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Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Find the help they need.

When a child or teenager is struggling, it can be difficult for parents and caregivers to know what is a normal part of growing up, what may be temporary, and what could benefit from professional support. Changes in mood, behavior, relationships, school performance, or daily routines can leave families wondering where to turn.

Child and adolescent psychiatry services can help families better understand what their child is experiencing and connect them with appropriate care and support. Regional Health Systems provides comprehensive mental health evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for children and adolescents experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric concerns.

Boy child psychiatry

Our approach is personalized to each child and family. Services may include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, ongoing monitoring, education, and collaboration with families and other professionals involved in the child’s care. When appropriate, our psychiatric providers work alongside pediatricians, primary care providers, therapists, counselors, schools, and other community partners to support coordinated care.

Our goal is not only to address symptoms, but also to help children and adolescents strengthen emotional well-being, improve daily functioning, build healthy relationships, and reach their full potential at home, at school, and in the community.

Compassionate Mental Health Care

Children and adolescents experience mental health concerns differently than adults. Their emotional and behavioral needs also change as they grow and develop. That is why effective psychiatric care begins with understanding the whole child, not simply a list of symptoms.

A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation may consider a child’s emotional and behavioral symptoms, developmental and medical history, family relationships, school experiences, social environment, strengths, and current support systems. This information helps our providers understand what may be contributing to the child’s concerns and develop an individualized treatment plan.

Mom and child talking to psych

Families and caregivers are important partners throughout this process. We strive to provide a supportive, respectful, and compassionate environment where families can ask questions, share concerns, understand treatment recommendations, and participate in decisions about their child’s care.

Treatment recommendations are based on each child’s individual needs and may include psychiatric follow-up, medication management, therapy or counseling, behavioral interventions, family support, or coordination with other healthcare and community-based services.

When medication is clinically appropriate, it may be prescribed as one component of a broader treatment plan. Our psychiatric providers carefully consider the child’s symptoms, diagnosis, developmental needs, medical history, other treatments, and the potential benefits and risks of medication. Children receiving medication are monitored over time to evaluate their progress, address concerns, and make adjustments when appropriate.

When to Seek Care

It is not always easy to recognize when a child or teenager needs professional mental health support. Occasional sadness, worry, frustration, or changes in behavior can be a normal part of development. However, persistent, significant, or concerning changes that interfere with everyday life may be a sign that an evaluation could be helpful.

Parents and caregivers may want to consider seeking care when they notice:

 

Many families are referred to child and adolescent psychiatry by a therapist, pediatrician, primary care provider, counselor, school professional, or another provider when concerns persist or begin to interfere with a child’s everyday life.

Child psych with family

Children do not always have the words to explain what they are feeling. At times, emotional distress may appear as changes in behavior, sleep, school performance, physical complaints, relationships, or interest in activities. While parents and caregivers should avoid trying to diagnose a specific condition themselves, trusting your instincts when something does not seem right can be an important first step toward getting help.

Families also do not need to wait until a situation becomes a crisis. Seeking an evaluation early can help identify concerns, provide a clearer understanding of the child’s needs, and guide recommendations for treatment and support. When appropriate, this may include determining whether medication could be beneficial as part of a comprehensive plan of care.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Services

Regional Health Systems provides mental health evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing psychiatric care for children and adolescents experiencing a broad range of behavioral and mental health concerns, including:

Services are developmentally informed, family-centered, and coordinated across pediatric, behavioral health, and mental health care whenever appropriate. By working collaboratively with children, adolescents, families, and other providers, we strive to create a treatment plan that supports each young person’s individual needs, strengths, and long-term well-being.

Our goal is to help families better understand what their child is going through, identify the right level of support, and provide compassionate care that helps children and adolescents feel better, function better, and move toward a healthier future.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Locations:

A Teaching Program Focused on Excellence

Regional Health Systems proudly serves as a Teaching Institution, helping shape the next generation of psychiatrists. Through a partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, we provide hands-on clinical training for psychiatry residents specializing in youth mental health.

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